Clark's new Language

Clark has aphasia bad enough that you can't hold a conversation with him. It isn't that his speech is slurred or anything, it is the words come out wrong. He also gets things reversed. For example, if I give him a picture of his sister and ask him who is this? He will say my brother, if I give him a picture of his brother, then that is his sister. So, son is daughter, daughter is son. Right is left and left is right. She is he and he is she. I am sure you get the idea. Clark didn't even realize it would come out wrong. If I told him no, that is your brother, he would say "yeh my sister". The therapist tell me that with aphasia a lot of time the people think the word comes out correctly, even when it doesn't. This can present some interesting challenges when trying to communicate. It took me a while to learn to decipher this new language. Clark even now, 1 year and 4 months later is still working on improving. I am happy to say he has come so far. He is a walking miracle as you will see as my story goes on.....

Bennington Glen

I have chosen a nursing / rehabilitation home for Clark close to our home. It is very nice and has a new rehabilitation program. The transport people come and load Clark up, I must of had a lost look, since one of them looks at me compassionately and assures me that they will take good care of him. The therapist have notified the home that he will be coming and advise them of his condition. All of lines and tubes have been removed except for the food tube into his stomach. He sleeps most of the time, occasionally opening his eyes and listens to what is going on around him. I am waiting at the nursing home when they bring a sleeping Clark. They get him into his room and everything is going okay, so I stay for awhile and then head home to gather up clothes and pictures. The therapist told me to bring pictures of is family and friends. It will help him in his recovery and they can use them in speech therapy.
I arrive early the next day and Clark evidently is ready to begin his rehabilitation, even if no one else is ready! They want him to stay in bed and he wants none of that. So, they put an alarm on his bed, well that didn't last long, Clark was able to turn that off before end of day. He is trying get up and walk around, but his right leg is very weak and is right arm and hand are totally unmoving. In ICU they gave me a strap that I would put around Clark's chest to help stabilize him when he relearns to walk, little did I know how quickly I would learn how to use that, because rehabilitation was about to begin. The amazing Clark is returning with a shout and a lot of stutters.....